New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-26
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE FOUNDER OF AN ASYLUM

GENEROUS NATURE AND GIFTS OF JOHN WATTS.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune
SIR: The credit Of founding and endowing The
Leakc and Watts Orphan House, or Asylum, belongs
10 John Watts. and the association Of Mr. Ieakcs name
was due TO tho generous nature and friendship Of Mr.
Watts. The idea OF the Asylum undoubtedly orgl-
mated with Mr.. Leakc but the carrying out Of tho idea
depended on contingency. one son. Robert. Of
Robert Lcake, Commis-ary Of Stores British Army.
married Miss Margaret Watts They had but one child.
son. whose likeness by Sir Thomas Lawrence belongs
10 the writer. This child would have inherited all tho
properly Of all the Lcabes. By his death John q.
Lake, brother OF Major Robert Ieake who was the
ni'iong bosom friend Of John Watts left without
any Immediate remote relations. This at least. va
hl- own declaration, repeatedly made. lie desired
~ icavc representative Of his name, and to accomplish
This purpose he bcqucahcd his large fortune to Robert
l. Waits, son of John Watts condition that the said
Robert assumed the name VI Lesko. This Robert J.
Watts did accept the fortune and assume the of
fake The writer, his nephew, In his youth his
home and birthplace No. Broadway. card
rapcis bearing the adopted name KoJert j. Watts
tfahc, and was cOgnzan In one way another Of all
,hcse matters. lhs Robert, who, General scott told
.l' writer was the hand-Omost In the city of in,
'ihc and hal the rcputaO Of being one Of the most
.harhhg' dlol suddenly IN his PRIME and left bis
ther almost ncOusolable at the los, Of this. his last
surviving son, who hal accepted the Lake fortune
Sd name against his own earnest hopes and wishes.
Nevertheless, the fact Il certain that Robert j. Watts
4ld accept the conditions Of John c. Lcale'S Will Tho
personal property, however. alone became hi, because
the state OF New York appropriated and
kept the really through d'let in the
VIII Of Mr.. IcalI". which defect enabled
IN" state to deprive Robert !. Watts Leake and the
orphan House OF largo portion OF the estate. The
dcah of IOtct y. Waits l"ake unmarried, vested the
property which lac had accepted and acquired In his
father. John Watts, who. already very wealthy. de
t"rmucd that he would Drncht personally by tho
money thus acquired TN ough affection bar apply II ~
the PURPOSES designed 10y Mr. Icahc in that Rob
crt watts wOuf not accept II.
Robert j. watts did accept aud what his be-
came uupucStlOnanly the property Of his fath" And
whom John Watts founded the Orphan House there
no legal compul-On prefix the name of IcalIr and
"oupln u with hl- But he frt II due TO Mr..
Icshc To- do I'm Justice To- the lafers original noble
conception lot ~ claimants soon Appeared. in
cited AMI urged on hy lawyers. to cudca'Or 10 G"' from
tie state ne realty II had Appropriated. Thee Hi
cations and claims made The Irah" mama "ery prOmi-
went nc attempts to obtain the pr"nfrY went On for
wears Thu, tho un-elhsh sc ION aud generosity
Of John waits wa- either Loot sight Of pressed
far possible to give grc1trr cOor an prominence n
that II Lake The wIlter'- father PLACED the truth
clearly before he prOpe. tnt -nch un'ruhs are COM
tfnua Is revived. There l. account OF the whole
matte fn an arcc fcahr and WATTS orphan Ilon-"'
hv thr Pew. u. n. HAYDEN I'm tho volume published IN
-C- los Hurt Ilougton to which any curious reader
l. -p"ci iully referred
Nfr. York. Oct 10 l4s- !. W. DE- i.